Last Report: 9/22/2020
Source: https://dl.ncsbe.gov/?prefix=ENRS/2020_11_03/

Returned and Accepted Mail Ballots

Ballots Returned: 153,664
Return Rate: 16.2%

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Party Registration

Party Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Democrats 84,627 55.1 473,023 17.9
Republicans 24,107 15.7 166,831 14.4
Minor 408 0.3 3,996 10.2
No Party Affiliation 44,522 29.0 306,045 14.5
TOTAL 153,664 100.0 949,895 16.2
All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by 2016 Vote History

Note: North Carolina provides only aggregate request statistics, so it is impossible to generate ballot return rates by 2016 general vote.
Voted Count Percent
Voted in 2016 General 118,911 77.4
Did Not Vote in 2016 General 34,753 22.6
TOTAL 153,664 100.0

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Race and Ethnicity

Race/Ethnicity Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Non-Hispanic White 112,627 73.3 640,579 17.6
Non-Hispanic Black 24,586 16.0 171,429 14.3
Hispanic 2,433 1.6 21,789 11.2
Non-Hispanic Asian American 2,414 1.6 22,527 10.7
Non-Hispanic Native American 457 0.3 3,972 11.5
Other/Multiple/Unknown 11,146 7.3 89,599 12.4
TOTAL 153,664 100.0 949,895 16.2

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Age

Age Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
18 to 25 5,304 3.5 70,934 7.5
26 to 40 14,971 9.7 155,282 9.6
41 to 65 49,462 32.2 348,465 14.2
66 and up 79,551 51.8 375,214 21.2
TOTAL 153,664 100.0 949,895 16.2

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Gender

Gender Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Female 80,505 52.4 519,095 15.5
Male 66,345 43.2 373,572 17.8
Unknown 6,814 4.4 57,228 11.9
TOTAL 153,664 100.0 949,895 16.2

Rejected

Ballots Rejected: 1,505
Rejection Rate: 1%

Most of these rejected ballots are for the ballot status reason of “WITNESS INFO INCOMPLETE”.

North Carolina election officials are required by state law to follow up with these voters. If you are a North Carolina voter concerned about your mail ballot, you can track the status of your ballot at the North Carolina State Board of Elections website.

In the “All” mail ballot returned statistics, I add the mail ballots that are returned and accepted with the rejected ballots. Dividing the number of rejected by this quantity yields a rejection rate.

Mail Ballots Rejected by Party Registration

Party Rejected Ballots Freq. Distribution All Returned Ballots Rejection Rate
Democrats 977 64.9 85,604 1.1
Republicans 212 14.1 24,319 0.9
Minor 1 0.1 409 0.2
No Party Affiliation 315 20.9 44,837 0.7
TOTAL 1,505 100.0 155,169 1.0
All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballots Rejected by Race and Ethnicity

Race/Ethnicity Rejected Ballots Freq. Distribution All Returned Ballots Rejection Rate
Non-Hispanic White 714 47.4 113,341 0.6
Non-Hispanic Black 617 41.0 25,203 2.4
Hispanic 34 2.3 2,467 1.4
Non-Hispanic Asian American 25 1.7 2,439 1.0
Non-Hispanic Native American 9 0.6 466 1.9
Other/Multiple/Unknown 106 7.0 11,252 0.9
TOTAL 1,505 100.0 155,169 1.0
Non-Hispanic White
Non-Hispanic Black

Requested

Ballots Requested: 949,895
Request Rate: 13.3%

Mail Ballot Requests by Party Registration

North Carolina registered Democrats have a 306,192 ballot request lead over registered Republicans.

Party Count Percent
Democrats 473,023 49.8
Republicans 166,831 17.6
Minor 3,996 0.4
No Party Affiliation 306,045 32.2
TOTAL 949,895 100.0

North Carolina releases an update to the voter registration file each Saturday. The voter registration numbers are from the most recent release and may be slightly dated.

All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballot Requests by Race and Ethnicity

Race Count Percent
Non-Hispanic White 640,579 67.4
Non-Hispanic Black 171,429 18.0
Hispanic 21,789 2.3
Non-Hispanic Asian American 22,527 2.4
Non-Hispanic Native American 3,972 0.4
Other/Multiple/Unknown 89,599 9.4
TOTAL 949,895 100.0

Mail Ballot Requests by Age

North Carolina provides mail ballot request data in age ranges inconsistent with other states’ ranges. The age statistics presented here are not included in the national age statistics.

Age Count Percent
18 to 25 70,934 7.5
26 to 40 155,282 16.3
41 to 65 348,465 36.7
66 and up 375,214 39.5
TOTAL 949,895 100.0

Mail Ballot Requests by Gender

Gender Count Percent
Female 519,095 54.6
Male 373,572 39.3
Unknown 57,228 6.0
TOTAL 949,895 100.0